Lock for extension tables



Jan. 22, 1952 v R 2,583,282

LOCK FOR EXTENSION TABLES Filed Sept. 21, 1948 2 2 Y a] 1 1 J4 34] -3-3 a A A V V J x .21 9 I I 4 29 14 3 25 JO 9 g JNVENTOR. fl/m/P M Vmru:

ATTORNE Y Patented Jan. 22, 1952 LOCK FOR EXTENSION TABLES Philip M. Virtue, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor to Virtue Bros. Mfg. 00., Los Angeles, Calif., a

corporation of California Application September 21, 1948, Serial No. 50,297

This invention relates to a lock for extension tables and has'for an object to provide inex-' 2 Claims. (01. 31149) pensive and relatively simple means effecting automatic .locking or latching of the table parts 'and also ready. release of said means to free said parts for extension.

Another object of the present invention is to provide novel means of the character indicated that are inexpensively formed of wire.

The invention also comprises novel details of construction and novel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fully appear in the course of the following description. However, the drawings merely show and the following description merely describe one embodiment of the present invention, which is givenby way of illustration or. example only.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate similar parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view, partly broken away of an extension table equipped with the locking means of the present invention, the leg supports of the table being omitted.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view as taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view showing one of the locking or latching units in released position.

The table that is illustrated conventionally comprises relatively slidable top sections 5 and 6 that meet at a central transverse joint I, said sections being interconnected by rails 8 and 9, the former fixed with section 5 and the latter with section 6. The rails maintain alignment of the sections and are connected to slide relatively by bolts or rollers not shown and operating in elongated slots ID that are formed, at least in rails 9. A table, thus constructed, will retain its closed position with the sections 5 and 6 abutting at joint 1 if rails 9, that are fixed with section 6,

4 tion 5.

.2 I are locked or latched to section 5. The present locking means is provided to effect such a releasable locking of the sections.

Said'locking means is shown as comprising, generally, two latch units l I carried on the underside of section 5, one associated with the end of each rail 9, and a transversely disposed wire l2 interconnecting said units, each-unit having separable locking engagement with an abutment l3 defining the adjacent end'of the slot ID of each said rails 9. Inasmuch as the units II are alike except for being of the opposite hand, the following description of one will serve to describe the other. Y

The unit II is formed of a single length of reasonably resilient wire, the same generally comprising a spring arm M, a fixed arm [5, a coiled connection I6 for said arms, and an'extension I! for limiting movement of arm l4 during release movement thereof to obviate undue strain bein placed on said arm It.

The unit II is aflixed to the under-side oi section 5 as by a screw or the, like l8,-the head ,point of securementTOne that rather holds the unit against'rotation around screw iii-comprises a studor pin 20 that is fixed tothe table section and extends through coiled connection I6.

The screw I8 and pin 20 are so associated with the adjacent end of rail 9 that, with the table sections abutted, an offset latch portion 2|, formed in an intermediate part of arm ll, engages end abutment IS of said rail, the ofiset portion entering slot Hi. The portion 22 that connects portion 2| with coil I6 is resiliently carried by said coil and normally seeks a position urging portion 2| into slot Ill. Beyond oftset portionZ I, arm I4 is provided with an angled end 23 that terminates in a ring or eye 24. While arm l4, in itself has some resiliency, the same has little tendency to flex except about coil l8 as a fulcrum. The sloping or angled end 23 is adapted to be engaged by end 25 of rail 9 when the table, from extended position, is being retracted or closed, said portion 23 being urged progressively further inward by end 25 and then, as ofi'set portion aligns with slot III, the arm springs from the inwardly flexed position of Fig. 4 to table-locking position of Fig. 1.

The fixed arm 15, for stability of the unit, is formed of two relatively angled portions 25 and 21 that lie flat against the under surface of sec- The bight i9 is formed at the end of portion 2'! and is then extended at 28 to connect with extension l1. Thelatter comprises a downwardly directed portion 29 that is in the path of movement, while being flexed, of portion 22 of arm l4. Thus, should said arm M be unduly flexed, portion 29 will form a resilient stop that counteracts such excess fiexure. The bottom end of portion 29 bentibackin the .di'recti-on. of part 28 --to forms. portion 30*between which and said part 28, arm 14 is free to move. Thus, any force tending to flex arm I4 downward rather than horizontally, is conteracted by portion that intercepts said arm and guards it against such abnormal fiexure.

The wire 12 is formed with an eye 31. at each end for connection to the eyes 24 of units iii With the table contracted as :shown, a person;

simply reaches beneath top section 5 and grasps and pulls on any portion of wire IE to cause retraction of arms MJfrom engagement with 31811819.. 'Thextable. sectionsm-ay nowqbe separated. .An. unduly ihardzpull will; be counteracted by portions 281 which also serve to equalize fthezfiexure of the arms; Even lf-onerarmshould releasefirst, itwill be brought we stop and mheaother .arm will then release. .Any tendency "towarda adownward'zpull on wire, iIZlS counteracted by portions=30. above indicated, the separated. .sections may then be brought into :ahutment and automatically're latched.

While thetinventionithat has :been illustrated andedescribediis :now regarded as the preferred embodiment, the :constr-nction is, of course, sub ject to modifications without departing fromithe spiiitzandscope sofiftherinvention. It is, there-- fore, .not desired to restrict the invention to the particular form of construction illustrated and 4 nection for said arms, and said spring arm being formed with an offset latching-portion adapted to releasably engage said other top section and with an end extension terminating in an eye effecting connection with said flexible connection member, said end extension being angled with respect to the general longitudinal disposition .of-.said' spring arm to provide a portion adapted tobe engaged by saidother top' section to effect inward flexing of the spring arm upon movement of said table sections toward each other.

,2. -In a lock for an extension table having I relatively slidable top sections, two spaced latch units mounted on the under surface of one top section for releasably engaging the other top section, and a flexible and integral connecting member.,for..manua1 flexing actuation of said units, each latch unit comprising an integral length of spring wire formed to have a spring arm, a fixed arm, and a resilient coiled con- :nection. fortsaid iarms; an :integral'resilientzfiexure-limiting-stop iiorsaid. spring arm :and formed .as :an extension of said'rfixed. arm, said stop comprising portions (limiting both inward :and

- zrdowznward fiexure or :said' spring arm, and said spring arm being formed withuan ofiset latching "portion Ja'dapted torelea'sably engagesa'id other top: portion and with an rend extension terminatingzin van :eyeeffecting connection with said flexible connecting :member, saidiflexure limiting Istop- 'being positioned in the path of movement of- :the spring arm to. limit the movement thereof when being flexed :by' the connecting. member.

-' M. VIRTUE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record 'in-the 'file of'th'is patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name "Date 197,115 Frees Nov. 13, 1 87'! 395,708 Lank ford J an. =8, 1889 695,267 Beach Mar. '11, I902 11433805 Brown June22', 1905 1,175,801 'Northall Mar. 14, 1916 .FOBEIGNBATENTS Number. Country Date;

211,492 'Germany Jiily 6, 1909 

